Malaysia plans labour law reforms to task employers to provide accommodation for their foreign workers in all sectors. Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act will come into force on June 1 in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan.
“However, the government will give three months grace period until August 31 to give room for employers to make the necessary arrangements. “The enforcement under the Act will begin on September 1,” said Datuk Seri Saravanan in a statement. Prior to this, the Act only covered accommodation and housing for workers in the plantation more than 20 acres and mining sector. With the amendment, the criteria has been extended to all sectors that provide accommodation and housing to workers.
The amendment was also to enhance the 2018 foreign workers accommodation guidelines prepared by the Peninsular Malaysia Labour Department which comprises minimum standard Datuk Seri Saravanan hoped that the enforcement of the amendments to the Act will help curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in line with the recommendations from the International Labour Organisation.
